A 22-year-old man faces an unusual charge of allowing a drunk driver - who was later killed in a crash at Rangiora - to drive his car.

Benjamin Peter Beazley, a contractor, was granted a registrar's remand ahead of his appearance at the Christchurch District Court sitting at Nga Hau e Wha marae on Wednesday, December 12. It meant he did not have to appear in court before the judge, and the registrar remanded him on bail to January 23.

Beazley is charged with abetting Tarrin Kayne Alderson, by allowing him to drive on Flaxton Rd on May 25, when he was so under the influence of drink that he was incapable of having proper control of the vehicle.

The charge results from a harder police policy in cases where they allege car owners allow drunk drivers to use cars.